Today's News

May 20-26
For information, call the Betty Ehart Senior Center (BESC) at 662-8920, the White Rock Senior Center (WRSC) at 662-8200 and “Day Out” (adult day care, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.) at 661-0081. Reservations must be made by 10 a.m. for daily lunches.

It’s no secret that teaching youngsters to read at an early age will help them in school later on. In fact, research shows that most children can read by age seven, but the foundation for learning begins at birth.
Sigma Delta, a Los Alamos Youth Leadership team, recognizes the importance of literacy and has been trying to do its part to help youth in the community.
For several months, the team, under the guidance of Los Alamos High School senior and LAYL member Jin Park, planned to visit LAPS elementary schools. In early May, it executed its plan, visiting Barranca Elementary.

Local scientist Paul Mutschlecner will give a talk at 7 p.m. May 24 at Pajarito Environmental Education Center, 3540 Orange St., about the upcoming transit of Venus across the sun.
The talk is free and open to the public and no registration is required.
In addition, PEEC will have a telescope available at the center at 4 p.m. June 5 for anyone interested in watching the transit.
Also on June 5, there will be a rare “transit of Venus” when the planet comes so precisely between the sun and the Earth that its image can be seen crossing the solar disk. The transit of Venus in June is the second of two that have occurred in the last eight years, but the next one won’t happen until 105 years from now.

Credit unions throughout the state are participating in a search for a young adult “spokester” who will reach out to Gen Yers ages 18-25 via social media, special events and other activities to get them on track for a lifetime of financial well-being through the Young & Free New Mexico program. The spokester must be:
• Social media savvy
• Video natural
• Creative blogger
• Self-motivated
• A personality that pops! Dynamic, likeable and outgoing — able to talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime
• Can create a buzz and get people talking
• Comfortable with all things Web
• Comfortable on camera

This year’s primary election is less than a month away, and as candidates enter the final sprint to the finish line the League of Women Voters lined up primary hopefuls for the District 5 state Senate and District 3 Public Regulation Commission races so the Los Alamos public could ask questions.

Each race only has a Democratic primary. There are no Republican candidates for either post.

In the District 5 Senate Race, Rio Arriba County Commissioner Alfredo Montoya of Alcade is facing off against incumbent 12-year veteran lawmaker Richard Martinez of Espanola.

Montoya said he was running to give District 5 constituents a new representation with a fresh perspective, while Martinez touted his extensive experience in the legislature.

Volunteers as young as four years old worked alongside tribal elders to plant 200 fruit trees at San Ildefonso Pueblo this week. The project is another step in the pueblo’s effort to revitalize its traditions, culture and the health of its people through farming.

“Water and land have always been sacred to our people,” said Farm Mentor Tim Martinez. “It’s all about bringing back good advice from our elders and grandparents, both through our senior center and from those that have left us.”

Ignoring a White House veto threat, the Republican-controlled House approved a $642 billion defense budget Friday that breaks a deficit-cutting deal with President Barack Obama and restricts his authority in an election-year challenge to the Democratic commander in chief.

The House voted 299-120 for the fiscal 2013 spending blueprint that authorizes money for weapons, aircraft, ships and the war in Afghanistan — $8 billion more than Obama and congressional Republicans agreed to last summer in the clamor for fiscal austerity.